Gameday Recap

Contact: George Howe,
Media Relations (773) 368-4848

Force Romp in Season Opener

Chicago, IL. Head Coach John Konecki walked into the locker room to give his team last minute instructions. The area was loud with chatter from pre-game nerves. His message was simple. ‘Forget about all of your outside distractions and for the next 60 minutes I want your fullest attention and best effort’. You could hear a pin drop after that message. On a beautiful crisp spring football day, the Force focused and prepared, dominated the 2009 Tier Two Champion Wisconsin Warriors 42-0 in front of a full house at their new home Winnemac Stadium.

It didn’t take longer than the opening kickoff for the Force to show their dominance. After being stuffed three straight downs by the defense with crisp, hard tackling, Warrior punter Leslie Gittings misplayed the snap; linebacker Angie Bandstra recovered the fumble on the 12 yard line. Two plays later, ‘Cat’ Converse scored from the 7. Carolyn Lee converted the extra point. The Force upped the score to 14-0 in the second quarter with a combination of pass completions by QB Sami Grisafe and tough running by Converse who this time found pay dirt up the middle from 20 yards out. The entire Force offensive line was named ‘Offensive Game Day MVP’ and gave Grisafe plenty of time in the pocket to read the defense and pick them apart. With 1:52 left until half, Grisafe faked left and threw a tight spiral to Albi Zhubi streaking down the right side 43 yards for the score. Grisafe found Patricia Harper in the end zone just before time expired. A tricky naked bootleg by Grisafe for the two point conversion, made the score 28-0 as the teams headed for the locker room. On the second possession of the third quarter, Grisafe and Zhubi hooked up again from the Warrior 12. Grisafe finished the scoring with 8:55 to go, with a six yard keeper. “The ‘O’ Line played tremendous today”, said Konecki. “Everyone contributed. It’s a good start.”

Defensive Coordinator Anthony Stone, always emotional on the sidelines, barked out his sets and the defense responded led by Defensive Game Day MVP Blue Hall, who flew around the field causing havoc and deflecting passes. “I’m pleased with our effort today”, said Stone. “We were prepared for just about anything. We will continue to learn and get better.”

The Force hosts the Wisconsin Wolves April 10. Game time is 3pm.